28 July 2017

According to a statement from Mozambique's Interior Minister Basílio Monteiro, the price of the tourist border visa has been set by the Mozambican government at US$50 per person. The government of Mozambiqueapproved new visa regulations on 21 February 2017, so that travellers from countries where Mozambiquehas an embassy or consulate are now eligible to get their entry visa at the port of entry. The new visa is valid for 30 days and allows travellers to leave and re-enter the country within the 30 day time frame.

26 July 2017

update (28 July 2017):South African National Park (SANParks) just confirmed that services at all their parks have not been affected by the strike action of some of their employees. All parks including Table Mountain National Park and Kruger National Park are open for business and there are no disruptions. Visitors should continue with their plans to visit the National Parks as contingency plans around the strike have been activated.

update (26 July 2017): The strike by SANParks employees across South Africa is set to continue on Thursday. The employees are demanding a 7.7% pay hike across the board while SANParks has so far only offered 7.1%.

South African National Parks (SANParks) has confirmed that a number of employees who are members of the Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (HOSPERSA) went on strike. The industrical action, which follows after efforts by the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) failed to resolve the salary dispute between the SANParks and the employees, is currently affecting SANParks Head Office in Pretoria, the Phalaborwa Gate and the Orpen Gate in Kruger National Park as well as Orpen Rest Camp, Berg en Dal Rest Camp and Shingwedzi Rest Camp (all in Kruger National Park). We'll keep you posted!

The Government of St Helena and South African carrier SA Airlink, a privately owned airline and a franchisee to South African Airways, have signed an agreement for the airline to provide scheduled commercial air services to St Helena. Following the necessary approvals, it is anticipated that the new service will commence in October 2017.

SA Airlink will operate its flights between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and St Helena's new Saint Helena Airport (HLE) via Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek. On both legs of the journey there will be an opportunity for a connection at Windhoekto a connecting flight to and from Cape Town; this gives flexibility to passengers to go to either destination. A proving flight will need to take place and more information will follow in due course.The initial weekly service on a Saturday will be operated o board an Embraer E190-100IGW aircraft in a two class configuration. The flight time from Johannesburgto St Helena will be approximately 06:15hrs including a half hour stop in Windhoek. SA Airlink will also operate a monthly charter service between St Helena and Ascension Island.

25 July 2017

According to the deputy director of Wildlife and National Parks in the Central Regions Johnson Ndokosho, Namibiahas lost (at least) 18 rhinos and 17 elephants to illegal poaching since the beginning of 2017. A total of (at least) 241 rhinos were killed by poachers since 2012; at least 245 elephants were poached since 2014.

Namibiahas the second largest population of rhino in the world estimated at 2,800 by the end of 2016, while the elephant population in the country is just over 22,000 animals.

24 July 2017

The flag carrier of France, Air France, is set to resume flights between Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi on 25 March 2018. The airline will operate the new route from Paristo Nairobiand back three times a week on board a Boeing 787-9. Air France previously served Nairobiuntil March 2000.

According to the latest statistics released by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), South Africa has lost at least 529 rhinos to illegal poaching between January - June 2017, compared to 542 in the same period for 2016. Out of the 529 rhinos poached nationwide, 243 have been illegally killed in Kruger National Park. This is compared to 354 in the same period in 2016 (-34%). Whilst there has been a decrease in the number of rhino killed for their horns in the Kruger National Park and Mpumalanga, the number of rhino poached unfortunately increased in some other provinces of South Africa.

21 July 2017

Tanzanian National Parks (TANAPA), a public organization with the mandate of managing all areas designated as National Parks in Tanzania, has introduced new fixed rate concession fees (pdf) applicable to all permanent facilities (lodge or permanent tented camp) within its 16 National Parks on 01 July 2017.

Ruaha National Park - 30USD/Person

Serengeti National Park - 50USD/Person

Katavi National Park - 30USD/Person

Mkomazi National Park - 25USD/Person

Mikumi National Park - 30USD/Person

Tarangire National Park - 40USD/Person

Udzungwa Mountains National Park- 25USD/Person

Kilimanjaro National Park - 40USD/Person

Mahale Mountains National Park- 30USD/Person

Saadane National Park - 30USD/Person

Arusha National Park - 40USD/Person

Rubondo Island National Park - 30USD/Person

Kitulo National Park- 25USD/Person

Lake Manyara National Park - 40USD/Person

Gombe National Park- 30USD/Person

Saanane National Park- 30USD/Person

Concession fees are payable to TANAPA by hoteliers maintaining Lodges and permanent camps within Tanzania's National Parks. The new fixed rate concession fee (pdf) is higher than the previous concession fee (10% of half board), so that travellers can eventually expect increased accommodation rates in TANAPA's National Parks in Tanzania.

The City of Johannesburg has installed closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras along the popular Vilakazi Street in Orlando West in Soweto, the only street in the world where two Nobel Laureates - former South African President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu - once lived. The new CCTV system was unveiled by Johannesburg's mayor Herman Mashaba on 19 July 2017. The cameras are installed to ensure the safety of tourists and locals in Sowetos most popular street. The footage of the 25 hi-tech surveillance cameras in Vilakzi Street is monitored around the clock by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD). Over and above the installation of the CCTV cameras, the Vilakazi precinct is also getting patrolled by JMPD officers.

"Increasing security along Vilakazi Street, foreign and local tourists will enjoy their stay knowing that someone is guarding them. We need to invest in fighting crime as it has a negative impact on business and investment." Herman Masashaba during the launch of the new CCTV system in Vilakazi Street

20 July 2017

Malawi has declared the Elephant Marsh, situated in the lower Shire valley in the south of the country, its second Wetland of International Importance*. The marsh, which forms part of the flood plain of the River Shire, is a mosaic of rooted swamp vegetation, floating flora and open water with grassy margins and reed beds, interspersed with islands containing reeds, shrubs and palm trees. In some places, floating mats of vegetation are so thick boat travel is nearly impossible. The size of the Elephant Marsh is depending on the flow of the Shire river and the Ruo river and varies from season to season and year to year - it ranges usually between 400km² to 1200km². Malawi's second Ramsar site* was named "Elephant Marsh" by the explorer David Livingstone in 1859, who counted as many as 800 elephants in one sighting. Nowadays the elephants are largely gone, but the marsh supports over 20,000 waterbirds. Around 26 waterbird species have been found breeding in the Elephant Marsh, including fish eagles, storks, kingfishers, herons, as well as the threatened Madagascar squacco heron, wattled crane and grey crowned crane.

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their wetlands by providing a framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of these fragile ecosystems and their resources.

*Lake Chilwa, second-largest lake in Malawi, was declared a Ramsar site in 1996.

19 July 2017

update (19 July 2017):South African National Parks (SANParks) and the Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (HOSPERSA) have agreed to suspend the strike until 24 July 2017.

South African National Parks (SANParks) is currently experiencing service delays due to industrial action by employees who are members of the Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (HOSPERSA). SANParks has activated its contingency plans in all National Parks and will be monitoring the situation closely. The South African Police Services (SAPS), South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and volunteers from Working for Water have been posted at entrance gates to ensure safe passage to all those entering the 19 National Parks managed by SANParks.

HOSPERSA is demanding a 9% increase for their members while SANParks is offering 6.01% salary adjustment and a 1% pay progression with a total offer of 7%. Though the strike is protected, the "no work no pay" rule will apply to those who take part in the industrial action. We'll keep you posted!

Due to the 2017 edition of "WalktheTalk" in Johannesburg on 23 July 2017, the City Sightseeing open-top bus hop-on hop-off tours will not be running on that day. "WalktheTalk" is a popular walking event in Johannesburgthat many walkers use as a platform to raise awareness for great causes and come together in vibrant costumes or matching outfits. It caters to walkers of all fitness levels and abilities – there's a 15km walk which winds through some of Johannesburg's iconic landmarks, an 8km walk which goes through the leafy suburbs around Emmerentia, and a 5km walk which attracts a lot of families walking with kids, prams, gran and gramps, and even the family dog.

The City Sightseeing open-top bus hop-on hop-off tour in Johannesburgcovers 12 stops around the city, including Constitution Hill, Ghandi Square and the Gold Reef City Theme Park. Travellers can remain on the bus and listen to the informative audio commentary during the entire 1.5-hour loop, or hop on and off and explore independently. 1-day or 2-day tickets for unlimited travel from the time of first use are available.

18 July 2017

update (18 Sept 2017):According to an article on enca.com, South African National Parks (SANParks) said during the official launch of National Parks Week at Golden Gate Highlands National Park on Sunday, its 19 national parks, including the Kruger National Park, will grant free admission to both local and international tourists.

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced the dates of the South African National Parks Week 2017. The 12th annual SA National Parks Week will take place from 18 to 22 September 2017. During the week, South African day visitors will have free access to most of the 21 National Parks in the country. Only the Namaqua National Park (annual natural flower show will be in full bloom in September) and the Boulders Penguin Colony area in the Table Mountain National Park will be excluded from this year's SANParks' National Parks Week.

It should be noted that free access to parks does not include free access to accommodation facilities and other tourist activities. Some of the parks will be extending the week to include the weekend. Individual park dates to be announced soon. The excluded Parks will apply normal entry tariffs.

17 July 2017

South African National Parks (SANParks) has confirmed that it received a notice to strike by workers affiliated to the Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (HOSPERSA). All outsourced services in SANParks' National Parks in South Africa, such as restaurants and retail stores, will continue operations as normal while SANParks managed operations including hospitality and gates are likely to experience some service delays. SANParks will activate contingency plans in all National Parks to ensure that guests enjoy their holidays with minimal interruption. We'll keep you posted!

12 July 2017

According to South Africa Tourism's2016 Annual Tourism Report, the top three most-visited attractions or landmarks in South Africa are located in Cape Town. The V&A Waterfront was South Africa's most-visited attraction or landmark with 1 101 000 visitors (tourists) in 2016, followed by Cape Town's Central City, the most-visited tourist attraction of 2015, with 1 088 000 visitors and Cape Point with 862 000 visitors.

Ethiopia's flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, suspends its service between Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) in Addis Ababa and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban. The last flight from Addis Ababa to Durbanand back is scheduled to be on the 28 July 2017. The airline currently serves the route four times a week on Fridays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

11 July 2017

Low cost-carrier Fastjet is set to reintroduce scheduled direct flights between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburgand Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) in Victoria Falls, effective 31 July 2017. In addition, the airline will also increase the number of flights between Harare International Airport (HRE) in Harareand Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) in Victoria Falls to daily and at times twice daily frequencies as well as between Harareand OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburgfrom three to four flights per day on peak-demand days.

The government of South Africa is set to implement new security strategies to combat the rampant crime at OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. The revised measures will see the people working at the airport vetted and rotated to curb corruption, tactical response which will be intensified, increased police and security personal, as well as searching of people entering and leaving the airport.

"Things won't be business as usual. This new security strategy won’t be seasonal- but it is here to stay. The dangerous criminals must know we have an appointment with them. It is going to be a very horrible experience for them. If they come with their guns, they must pray to satan because they will meet our forces on the ground. This is not just war-talk, this is real." [Police Minister Fikile Mbalula, src.]

Travellers arriving at or departing from OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburgshould be aware of potential delays caused by the new security measures and should allow some extra time for entering or leaving the airport.

10 July 2017

At its 41st session taking place in Krakow, Poland (02-12 July 2017), the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee has inscripted the ‡Khomani Cultural Landscape in South Africa as a World Heritage Site. The landscape (959,100ha) is located in the Dawid Kruiper District Municipality in the Northern Cape. It covers the entire Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (KGNP) and forms part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park which is bordered by Botswana and Namibia in the east and west respectively.

The ‡Khomani and related San people are unique in that they descend directly from an ancient population that existed in southern Africa some 150,000 years ago, the ancestors of the entire human race.The red dunes of the ‡Khomani Cultural Landscape are strongly associated with this unique culture stretching from the Stone Age to the present, thus making it a landscape that has changed little from a time long ago when humans were mainly hunter gatherers. The ‡Khomani Cultural Landscape has been home to at most a few hundred people who have survived life in the extreme desert landscape of the southern Kalahari through their knowledge of the land. Particular to their practices is their ways of physically defining the land through designated uses of the different parts; how their movements were organised as well as other significant cultural practices. (via https://www.environment.gov.za)

07 July 2017

The national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, Air Seychelles, will suspend its direct service between Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) on the island of Mahé and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban, effective 27 July 2017. According to the press release by the airline, the performance of the twice-weekly operation and its contribution to inbound tourism in the Seychellesdid not meet company expectations.Travellers will still be able to travel easily between Durban and the Seychellesvia a short stop in Johannesburg, thanks to a codeshare agreement between Air Seychelles and South African Airways.

The Latam Airlines Group, formed through the association of LAN (Chile) and TAM (Brazil), is going to increase the number of flights between São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU) in São Paulo (Brazil) and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg from 17 November 2017 to 24 March 2018 by two weekly flights. The additional flights from Johannesburgwill be operated on Mondays and Saturdays and from São Paulo on Fridays and Sundays.

06 July 2017

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has published the on-time performance results of domestic airlines’ flying out of OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and Durban's King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in June 2017.On-Time
Performance is measured by comparing the actual off-block time (when
aircraft pushes back) against the airline schedule time for a departing
flight. The measurement is done in accordance with the IATA (International Airlines Transport Association) universal standard benchmark with considers a 15 minute deviation from the scheduled time as an on-time departure.OR Tambo International Airport (JNB), Johannesburg - 15 Min on Time Performance June 2017 (airport target 87%)